OBJECTIVE: To determine the cost of management of occupational exposures to blood and body fluids. DESIGN: A convenience sample of 4 healthcare facilities provided information on the cost of management of occupational exposures that varied in type, severity, and exposure source infection status. Detailed information was collected on time spent reporting, managing, and following up the exposures; salaries (including benefits) for representative staff who sustained and who managed exposures; and costs (not charges) for laboratory testing of exposure sources and exposed healthcare personnel, as well as any postexposure prophylaxis taken by the exposed personnel. Resources used were stratified by the phase of exposure management: exposure reporting, initial management, and follow-up. Data for 31 exposure scenarios were analyzed. Costs were given in 2003 US dollars. SETTING: The 4 facilities providing data were a 600-bed public hospital, a 244-bed Veterans Affairs medical center, a 437-bed rural tertiary care hospital, and a 3,500-bed healthcare system. RESULTS: The overall range of costs to manage reported exposures was $71-$4,838. Mean total costs varied greatly by the infection status of the source patient. The overall mean cost for exposures to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected source patients (n=19, including those coinfected with hepatitis B or C virus) was $2,456 (range, $907-$4,838), whereas the overall mean cost for exposures to source patients with unknown or negative infection status (n=8) was $376 (range, $71-$860). Lastly, the overall mean cost of management of reported exposures for source patients infected with hepatitis C virus (n=4) was $650 (range, $186-$856). CONCLUSIONS: Management of occupational exposures to blood and body fluids is costly; the best way to avoid these costs is by prevention of exposures.
OBJECTIVE: To determine the cost of management of occupational exposures to blood and body fluids. DESIGN: A convenience sample of 4 healthcare facilities provided information on the cost of management of occupational exposures that varied in type, severity, and exposure source infection status. Detailed information was collected on time spent reporting, managing, and following up the exposures; salaries (including benefits) for representative staff who sustained and who managed exposures; and costs (not charges) for laboratory testing of exposure sources and exposed healthcare personnel, as well as any postexposure prophylaxis taken by the exposed personnel. Resources used were stratified by the phase of exposure management: exposure reporting, initial management, and follow-up. Data for 31 exposure scenarios were analyzed. Costs were given in 2003 US dollars. SETTING: The 4 facilities providing data were a 600-bed public hospital, a 244-bed Veterans Affairs medical center, a 437-bed rural tertiary care hospital, and a 3,500-bed healthcare system. RESULTS: The overall range of costs to manage reported exposures was $71-$4,838. Mean total costs varied greatly by the infection status of the source patient. The overall mean cost for exposures to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected source patients (n=19, including those coinfected with hepatitis B or C virus) was $2,456 (range, $907-$4,838), whereas the overall mean cost for exposures to source patients with unknown or negative infection status (n=8) was $376 (range, $71-$860). Lastly, the overall mean cost of management of reported exposures for source patients infected with hepatitis C virus (n=4) was $650 (range, $186-$856). CONCLUSIONS: Management of occupational exposures to blood and body fluids is costly; the best way to avoid these costs is by prevention of exposures.
Authors: Leo Beletsky; Daniela Abramovitz; Jaime Arredondo; Pieter Baker; Irina Artamonova; Phil Marotta; Maria Luisa Mittal; Teresita Rocha-Jimenez; Javier A Cepeda; Mario Morales; Erika Clairgue; Thomas A Patterson; Steffanie A Strathdee Journal: J Occup Environ Med Date: 2020-01 Impact factor: 2.162
Authors: Camila Lucas de Souza; Thaís de Arvelos Salgado; Tatiana Luciano Sardeiro; Hélio Galdino Junior; Alexander Itria; Anaclara Ferreira Veiga Tipple Journal: Rev Lat Am Enfermagem Date: 2020-06-19
Authors: Anita Gębska-Kuczerowska; Izabela Kucharska; Agnieszka Segiet-Święcicka; Marcin Kuczerowski; Robert Gajda Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2021-05-25 Impact factor: 3.390
Authors: Alice Mannocci; Gabriella De Carli; Virginia Di Bari; Rosella Saulle; Brigid Unim; Nicola Nicolotti; Lorenzo Carbonari; Vincenzo Puro; Giuseppe La Torre Journal: Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol Date: 2016-03-29 Impact factor: 3.254